Esalen has reopened effective Monday, March 27! CalTrans is authorizing local residents and registered guests of Esalen to pass through the Road Closed sign as a “soft” closure is still in place to the north of us, while crews complete road work. A hard closure boundary, meaning no public traffic permitted, is still in effect just south of Esalen.

Please plan to arrive between 2:00pm and 5:00pm. You will need to notify the CA Highway Patrol officer at the closure barricade that you are staying at Esalen Institute. All workshops and programming will continue this week as scheduled.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we manage through these weather challenges, and look forward to welcoming you to Esalen!

Weekly Schedule of Open Classes

Led by a rotating roster of local teachers, Open Classes are available to all guests at Esalen. Below is a sample calendar — please check the schedule once you arrive on campus for information about specific times and offerings during your stay.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY








7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement

2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class



7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement

2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class

7:30 pm
Wed Evening Program


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement

2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class








7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement

2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY


No classes on Monday


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


No classes on Sunday

4 – 5:00 pm
Restore


4 – 5:00 pm
Restore


4 – 5:00 pm
Restore


4 – 5:00 pm
Restore


4 – 5:00 pm
Restore

MONDAY


7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation

TUESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement


2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class

WEDNESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement


2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class


7:30 pm
Wed Evening Program

THURSDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement


2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class



FRIDAY




7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation

SATURDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement


2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class

SUNDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement





MONDAY


No classes today

TUESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


4:00 – 5:00 pm
Expand

WEDNESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


4:00 – 5:00 pm
Expand

THURSDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


4:00 – 5:00 pm
Restore

FRIDAY


4:00 – 5:00 pm
Expand

SATURDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


4:00 – 5:00 pm
Expand

SUNDAY


No classes today

MONDAY


7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation

TUESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement

2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class

WEDNESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement

2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class

7:30 pm
Wednesday Evening Program

THURSDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement

2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class

FRIDAY


7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation

SATURDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement

2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class

SUNDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Movement

Morning Movement

7:30 – 8:30 am
T, W, Th, Sa, Su

Soak in the bright energy of the morning during an invigorating movement program. Class styles will vary with each teacher, so come prepared to move your body in a new and heart-opening experience.

All levels are welcome.

Afternoon Class

2:15 – 3:15 pm
T, W, Th, Sa

The content of our afternoon classes depends on the teacher, and ranges from visioning to meditation, sound healing to forest bathing, creative expression, writing, and more.

Bring your journal, pen, and open mind.

MONDAY



No classes on Monday

TUESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven
Lawn Tent


10 – 11:00 am
Expand
Lawn Tent


4 – 5:00 pm
Restore
Lawn Tent

WEDNESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven
Lawn Tent


10 – 11:00 am
Expand
Lawn Tent


4 – 5:00 pm
Restore
Lawn Tent

THURSDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven
Lawn Tent


10 – 11:00 am
Expand
Lawn Tent


4 – 5:00 pm
Restore
Lawn Tent

FRIDAY


4 – 5:00 pm
Restore
Lawn Tent

SATURDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven
Lawn Tent


10 – 11:00 am
Expand
Lawn Tent


4 – 5:00 pm
Restore
Lawn Tent

SUNDAY



No classes on Monday

Meet Our Teachers
Megan Cassamas
Megan Cassamas
:
Ongoing

For nearly a decade Megan has provided a somatic-based approach to yoga. Her passion is to serve as a guide to support others in bridging meditation and motion in empowering embodiment classes. She is the founder of Moja Yoga.

@moja.yoga

MojaFlow

MojaFlow is an experience to provoke and elevate you to discover new realms of energy and inspire you to experience the joy of going beyond barriers in your own practice and life. Class will include a somatic warm-up, breath-work, and strengthening exercises to support the body/mind connection.

Jovinna Chan
Jovinna Chan
:
Ongoing

Jovinna Chan, E-RYT 500, YACEP, is co-founder of Shakti Initiation Yoga Leadership School and A Wild Life Sanctuary™. She is a certified Soul Motion™ and LetYourYogaDance Teacher, and co-founder of Pranotthan School of Yoga. She leads transformational programs around the world.

jovinna.com

Soul Movement Sanctuary

This is a conscious dance practice for people who love or are curious about movement. Here in the company of non-dancers and dancers, we get supple and strong, we explore expressions, we celebrate creativity, we expand empathy, we move and are moved.

Pranotthan Yoga

In class we contemplate spiritual/philosophical teachings, slow down and move mindfully by co-ordinating breath with movement, sustain poses to deepen focus and awareness, practice breathing exercises and meditation to hone skillfulness in listening to the inner subtle experiences.

Douglas Drummond
Douglas Drummond
:
Ongoing

Douglas has been passionately involved with teaching the 5Rhythms® since 2010. He was introduced to the 5Rhythms by his mother at 19 years old and later experienced his first class with Gabrielle Roth in New York City. His experiences were often transformational and strengthened an incredible connection between body, mind, soul, and spirit. Douglas’s facilitation is grounded in integrity, safe boundaries and a fascination for the unknown. He currently serves as Director of Healing Arts & Somatics at Esalen Institute.

The 5 Rhythms® Dance Experience

5Rhythms is a dynamic movement practice — a practice of being in your body — that ignites creativity, connection, and community.

JJ Jeffries
JJ Jeffries
:
Ongoing

JJ Jeffries resides at the Esalen Institute, and has been offering movement classes here for almost two decades. Though BEING is his preferred state, he is intensely curious about all things DOING leading to BEING. He is a devotee of play and laughter, and welcomes your company.

Pathways to Joy

Start your morning by awakening your energetic body, tracking each of the chakras through the experience of meditative guitar and resonant voice. Then, emerge fully into sunrise energy with Dance Awake, connecting to your YES! and inviting ecstatic play and heart opening!

Intro to Gestalt Practice

Gestalt, like meditation, is an awareness practice that also provides a means for us to connect in the present moment. In this class, we will re-create and experience an Esalen style check-in, building spontaneous and intentional community. An Esalen tradition.

Micha Merrick
Micha Merrick
:
Ongoing

Micha shares vibrational ritual and embodied herbalism as a heartfelt communion with our living ecosystem. Through personal mentorship with shamanic Lahu medicine women of Thailand and spiritual midwives in Bali, Micha currently facilitates the Herbal Clearing Ritual at Esalen, an energetic healing practice combining sound, touch, herbs, and intention. Micha offers sanctuary and grounding in connection with the earth.

Bathing Rituals of Self Renewal

Meditate with the surging energy of the waves and let tension dissolve on the ocean breeze. Adorned with flowers and local healing herbs, this unique experience at the Esalen baths blends personal inquiry, herbal education, and sensory delight. Each ritual is an emergent collaboration of sound, sensation, intention, and floral offering to the sea. Come early, class size is very limited.

Waves of Awareness

Follow the flow of sensation available in every breath and enjoy the intimacy of your own presence. This fluid, self-inquiring yoga class is open to all levels of experience.

Deva Munay
Deva Munay
:
Ongoing

Deva is passionate about the transformational power of sacred sound. She has a certificate in Sound Healing from the Globe Institute of Sound & Consciousness in San Francisco, and lives in Big Sur where she leads sound journeys and teaches yoga, meditation, and her signature class The Hive and the Hum, about honeybees and frequency.

sacredsound.love

The Hive and the Hum

Tune into the frequency of the honeybees and our collective consciousness. Enjoy a sacred sound activation with crystal singing bowls as we drop into a deep listening meditation to attune to the inner hive, while learning about our buzzing friends.

Restorative Sound Journey

Join us for a deeply nourishing sound journey with alchemy crystal singing bowls, rattles, tingshas, and more. Learn how the healing frequencies of sacred sounds with alchemy bowls can help calm your heart, focus your mind, and bring a heightened sense of awareness to your life. This restorative sound journey is intended to harmonize mind, body, and spirit with radiance and love. All are welcome!